Irish Hospitals Trust Trophy
Wigan have won many, many trophies since their formation in 1879. We all know about the Challenge Cup, Championship, Lancashire Cup - the bread and butter trophies - and we may be familiar with some more obscure trophies like the one we won versus Hull FC in a game played in Australia that resembled a shield more than anything.
Years ago a particular image caught my attention. In it was the obligatory Jim Sullivan, the unmistakable New Zealander Len Mason, John Counsell and the Mayor of Wigan, Councillor J. Horne. The Mayor and Sullivan were holding what looked like a kitchen utensil and I thought nothing of it for a while. The photo below, courtesy of Ron Hunt/ Wigan World.
But now the thought re-emerged in my consciousness.
So... what is the deal with this trophy, and what was it?
The story begins in February 1934. Whilst the Rugby Football League were finalising playing a match in Paris between England and France, news came into print that a well known Dublin sportsman had approached the Warrington Club about a proposal. Mr Austen Crowe, President of the Warrington Club was asked to send teams to Dublin to play an exhibition match. In beautiful timing, it was seen that when the proposal lay on the boardroom table at Wilderspool, the Rugby League could not refuse to sanction such a game, given what they were doing themselves over in Paris.
The proposal came from a Mr. Owen Toole, an influential sportsman over in Dublin and personal friend of the Warrington president. Inspired by witnessing the Cup replay between Keighley and Warrington during mid-February, Toole got his thoughts together and got the ball rolling. He had proposed that Warrington should send over a team, preferably Wigan, to play a match at Dalymount Park, home of the Bohemians, around Easter time.
Whilst Mr. R.F. Anderton, the Warrington secretary, stated that Easter would be impossible due to the fixture pile-up, he took the view that a match would be better suited immediately after the season conclusion in May.
"We have, however, not considered the matter in committee," Mr. Anderton said, "but it could be easily arranged, especially as there would be no need to argue about guarantees." He continued, "While for the present there is no idea of attempting to establish the game in the Irish Free State, the match would be very useful propaganda."
Given the heights to which Salford found themselves at this moment in time: League Champions and well on their way to another Championship Final, their secretary manager Lance Todd, a former Wigan player in the days of Jimmy Leytham, was asked his opinion on the matter. "In my own, personal opinion, I am sure that the scheme would be a great success. When I was in New Zealand, we sent a team to Australia with astonishing results," said Todd, referring to the emergence of the League code in the early 1900s. Lance Todd also talked about the realistic possibility of the English Champions touring Australia to play the premier teams down there during the summer, to which he was very much in favour. This wasn't a new idea. Twenty years previous, when Harold Wagstaffe's Huddersfield were the dominant team, ideas were given pre-War about a tour to the southern hemisphere. Australian manager Harry Sunderland, who had remained in England after the Australian Tour to work in the Press covering the upcoming Cricket Ashes Tests, was fully behind this idea, an idea that Harry continued to have years later when he worked at Wigan.
A seemingly one off tie in Dublin then so far did not have any negatives.
Mr. Anderton furthered arrangement and looked at the costs. He wrote to Toole stating that even if there was modest gate receipts of £400, costs would be covered. He emphasised the point that it would be the first professional rugby match played in Ireland and that the game would almost certainly be sanctioned by the Rugby League powers. The game was being mooted for May 13th, a Sunday. The Rugby League Council are strongly opposed to playing matches on Sundays but this was seen to be a minor snag such was the opportunity given before them. The Council would hold the Dublin proposal to a vote on March 12th, in Manchester.
All that the Warrington Club had to do was wait a few weeks for the verdict.
As D-Day approached, Jim Sullivan was making records of his own, kicking his 146th goal of the campaign. Wigan were the first club to entertain and host a French team. Leeds at this had been following the touring French team with interest. They had put in a proposal themselves to tour France in their own four game jolly. Salford were not happy about this, considering themselves, not Leeds, as a better suited option.
"This friendly match may not appear important to you, but to us it is a big event," noted one Dublin dweller in the local Press. News of the game being sanctioned had been delayed until the end of March when finally a decision was received by the Warrington and Wigan Clubs.
The game would be played at Shelbourne Park, Dublin, on Saturday May 12th - a week after the Championship Final. Those who saw Sunday as being a sacred day were happy. A challenge cup was to be played for too. Speaking on recent events, Owen Toole said, "I am hopeful that in future there will be a match in Dublin each year between Rugby League teams, and that the challengers for the trophy will either be the Cup winners or League champions. The coming match is rousing great interest."
The finer details were now starting to be made. The Lord Mayor of Dublin will receive the teams at the Mansion House, with the teams travelling out together on the Friday afternoon boat from Holyhead, returning home on the Monday.
James Sullivan
Charlie Seeling Jr.
Joe Golby
Albert Davis
All was well. That was until a spanner was thrown into the works. News came in mid April that the Shelbourne Association Club, in Dublin, had made an offer to Oldham and Rochdale Hornets to play an exhibition match on April 28th. This would be the first game of Rugby League in Ireland and a full two weeks before the Warrington-Wigan tie. The Oldham club did not back down with their offer. This did not go down too well with either Warrington or Wigan who immediately protested at this proposal as the game was arranged by a soccer club. The Rugby League Emergency Committee were called upon.
Oldham were given the right to choose their opponents by Shelbourne, and they chose the Hornets. "A very unfriendly act" was how Warrington and Wigan viewed the actions of Oldham. Mr. J.S. Parkinson, the Oldham president, told the Daily Dispatch that he and his committee considered that far from harming the Warrington v. Wigan match, the match a fortnight earlier with Rochdale Hornets would enhance the latter game. "Our only desire," stated Parkinson, "is to endeavour to make the Rugby League game more widely known, and we regret that our old friends, Warrington and Wigan, have taken another view of our project."
This view was not shared by Mr. Toole and his promoters over in Dublin with a telegram:
Protest most strongly against suggested match on April 28.
As arranged ours would be first Rugby League match in Ireland.
Otherwise breach of faith with our supporters here.
Have to-day made arrangements for a valuable trophy.
Take matter up strongly with your League Council
This was getting exciting! Oldham were not in any mood to back down but Mr Toole had a point. Seeing the success that Owen Toole's syndicate had got to this point, why wouldn't a rival try to cash in on this enterprise? Of course Oldham were not in this for the betterment of the game, but for the honour and for the cash. In my view.
As Wigan progressed to the Championship Final against Salford after a thrilling match against Leeds, the Rugby League Emergency Committee made their decision. They had refused an application of the Oldham and Rochdale Hornets clubs to play an exhibition match on the ground of Shelbourne A.F.C. This now paved the way for Warrington and Wigan to make history. The following resolution was passed: "That permission be not granted to the Oldham and Rochdale clubs to play a game in Dublin on April 28, on the ground that such a match is not in the best interests of the Rugby League game."
Not in the best interests of the rugby league game. A strange sentence given that Rugby League was open to everything and everything at that moment in time. Perhaps the timing was wrong and this 'unfriendly' situation was not needed at the time to help ease the concerns of already invested parties in the Emerald Isle. The committee were also informed that there was no question of the Shelbourne club wanting two matches, as their ground rental did not extend after April, the match on May 12 being promoted privately. The council quoted Rugby League bye-law 17 as giving the power to pass the resolution referred to. The old bye-law 17 saved the day but it was felt that away from the Oldham and Rochdale clubs there was not enough backing for them. Wigan had Jim Sullivan which, in those days, was a really big draw.
Shelbourne Park
Dublin, photographed in 1936
With the path open for Warrington and Wigan, attention was now had on the trophy. The Hospital Trusts, Ltd, of Ireland would present the 100 guinea trophy. When the two clubs saw the trophy, they were both immediately impressed with it. So much so that they both agreed to order jointly silver replicas of it for presentation to each member of the winning team. For the losers, the Clubs agreed that a Lancashire mug for each of the "mugs" of the losing side!
The silver challenge trophy, as well as the miniature reproductions, are modelled as exactly as possible after one of the most famous sacred vessels in Europe, the Ardagh Chalice. Many of the details are gilt, and gold is used in the filigree panels with which the bowl of the chaliceis largely surrounded. The handles are very elaborately fashioned, and decorated with settings of gold and enamel. The magnificent panelled band which passes round the cup gives the vessel poise and dignity. A gilt stem enriched with panelled ornament joins the cup to its base, and the latter is finished off with with a circular sole-plate, the upper and lower surfaces of which are used for a further display of the metalworker and enamelworker's art. Most impressive of all was the cyclic ornament of gold and gilt metal panels arranged in zones about a central crystal at the inner apex of the base.
It does sound like a QVC item doesn't it. The Ardagh Chalice is of supreme mastery though, and is preserved in the National Museum in Dublin. And what a thing to win...
With game day now here, history was to be made in Ireland. The weather was overcast during the morning which may have had an influence on the 8-10,000 crowd. The popular ends (cheap tickets) were only sparsely populated when the two teams were warmly welcomed to the field at Shelbourne Park, in the shadow of the Irish Rugby Union headquarters nearby in Lansdowne Road.
What was to be seen by the spectators was the amazing fast pace to the other code of rugby. The Irish crowd were also treated to witnessing Jim Sullivan kick his 200th goal of the season, extending his World Record. Wigan ended up winning comfortably by a scoreline of 32-19.
Warrington were first to take the lead. At a scrum they were awarded a penalty kick and Holding, the Warrington fullback duly took the two points on offer. High from his record feats during the season, Jim Sullivan didn't take too long to trouble the score board official by dropping a goal shortly afterward.
Not to be outdone, Holding realised his 'inner-Sully' by dropping a 30 yard effort. This was to be the last time Warrington took the lead. Reg Hathway, the Wigan forward scored a try before half time, with which Sullivan converted. 7-4 at the break.
Soon after the restart Wigan increased their advantage as half back George Bennett cut through the Wire defence for a brilliant try, reminiscent of a Jason Robinson effort. Bennett got his second almost immediately afterward after a good passing move. Sullivan had no issue converting both Bennett efforts.
On the hour mark Wigan again scored. Much of the possession belonged to the newly crowned English Champions and this pressure resulted in Jack Morley assisting Len Mason for a try. The game had now got away from Warrington, despite a late rally of tries, Wigan held firm and with further converted tries from Morley and Dicky Twose, Wigan had the honour of taking away the beautiful Cup back to England.
Luckily, footage of the game exists via British Pathe.
The goalkicking of Jim Sullivan and Holding wowed the Irish crowd. When Sullivan kicked his 200th goal, the crowd erupted in honour. The passing at times was poor, as you could possibly see from the Pathe video, and there was a deal of knock ons. The lack of footwork in the forward play was also a disappointment, according to commentators. But Dublin was impressed. The game was fast paced and exciting. For the first game of Rugby League in Ireland, it was also a financial success.
Whilst the Irish papers struggled to imagine a rugby game without long scrimmages. "The forwards, apparently, are more like auxiliary backs than forwards..." wrote 'Cam' in the Irish Independent. "All the rules are designed to keep the ball in play," continued Cam, "and the nearest approach which we have to it in pace is the seven-side version of Rugby Union."
In a local Irish newspaper, commentator "SHAMROCK" said the following of the match:
"While the average Rugby Union follower in Ireland would no doubt be rather disappointed with the efforts of Sullivan and Holding to find touch (and these, I admit, were nothing to write home about, and would have brought condemnation on the head of any Irish club fullback) all had to admit that as an entertainment and spectacle the Rugby League game is far ahead of modern Rugby Union...
... not in any Rugby international played in Ireland for years has any of our modern stars revealed such wonderful handling and dribbling as Seeling.
After the match, both Wigan and Warrington were entertained to dinner in the Dolphin Hotel by Alderman Dr. Myles Keogh, acting Lord Mayor. Dr. Keogh announced the receipt of a telegram from the actual Lord Mayor (away in England) stating: "Hearty welcome to visitors, and congratulations to winners of match." He sounded a bit hurried in his telegram to me.
Whilst being there in person, Dr. Keogh congratulated the teams for their splendid exhibition of a type of Rugby that was new to Dublin people. "I want," he said, "the people of Great Britain and of the Free State (Ireland) to know each other better, to appreciate each other's good points, and thus create a feeling of real friendship which will react to the benefit of both countries."
Mr Crowe, Mayor of Warrington and Chairman of the Warrington club, who was instrumental in getting this venture off the gorund, spoke of the wonderful welcome the team had received. "We want your friendship," he said. "We give ours. I have no time for your tariffs of for ours." Commenting on the strained political situation between the two nations at this time.
The Wigan Mayor, Councillor James Horne, said his deputy in Wigan was an Irishman, Daniel O'Rourke. The welcome and hospitality they received exceeded anything they could have hoped for. Mr Walton, now Chairman of the Wigan Club, spoke of the pride the team felt in winning the Cup and defeating Warrington, who had before beaten them six times in succession.
Mr. J. MacAvin, on behalf of the Hospitals' Trust, Ltd., presented the Cup to the winners.A replica was given also to the Warrington team. He also presented horse shoes to the Mayors of Wigan and Warrington.
During the whole weekend, Wigan and Warrington were both royally entertained. They were shown the sites of Dublin and paid a visit to the Plaza Ballroom where they watched three thousand girls working in connection with the Irish Hospital Sweep Draw on the Derby. Here, each member of the party was presented with a miniature in silver-gilt of the huge drum from which the sweep tickets were drawn.
Over 260 people accompanied the team and directors from Wigan. Unlike the sail over to Ireland, the return journey was most foul. Choppy seas gave sea sickness to many players and of the party. On the return to Wigan, after which sick was mopped up I guess, Mayor of Wigan reflected on his experiences. "I have thoroughly enjoyed myself amongst the alds, and I could not wish better company than the members of the Wigan team."
Speaking at the Mayor's parlour, Jim Sullivan thanked the Mayor for the reception and his kindly reference to the members of the team. "You have to live with a man to know him properly," added Sullivan, "and you, Mr Mayor, have lived with us this week-end."
Above, The Mayor of Wigan, Councillor J. Horne, holds the Irish Cup with Jim Sullivan. Others in the group were Messrs George Taylor (secretary), J. Entwistle, R. Hough, James Walkden (chairman), Johnny Thomas (with whom George Bennett, the Wigan half-back eclipsed his record of tries scored in a season as a half back with a try in Dublin, 28 in total), Harry Ball, E. Conroy, and John Counsell (directors). Charlie Seeling, Fred Griffiths, Albert Davis, Joe Golby, Hector Gee, Harold Edwards, Joe Wilson, George Bennett, Dicky Twose, Jack Morley, Len Mason and Reg Hathway of the playing team were also present here. Legendary trainer Tommy McCarthy is also pictured dead centre behind the head of Len Mason, the New Zealand forward (who moonlighted as a successful centre during the Championship run-in).
Reading this, what has changed in world rugby? What happened you may ask. Why didn't Rugby League go back and conquer? The same quotes could easily be written in today's media regarding the differences between League and Union.
All I have to say at AnL.com in 2025 is this: Andrew Farrell. Wigan eventually did conquer Ireland.
